Views on Hicks and Gillett? - Tell the Press

[JohnOK]

They are the two most despised people that have ever been associated with our club.

The debt doesn't bother me too much or their PR disasters or their inability to act like adults together but the fact is they made us promises that they have never been able to or intended to keep.

I never once anticipated that they would come and throw money at us but they said we would "Start Digging" within 60 days and get the stadium built. It now looks further away than ever and we can't progress with the big European teams without a bigger stadium.

I think they have been incredibly lucky in "Inheriting" Rafa Benitez as manager becuase I believe that as we are so far financially behind Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man City that if we fall out of the top 4 we will never get back in there while these 2 are in charge.

I desperately want them out as they have been like a Cancer to this club and it just continues to spread.

They could still leave with a bit of dignity and the only way to do that is to win the league next year and sell up in the next 12 months. Next year we will have key players with only 2 years to go on their contracts such as Alonso and Mascherano (if we manage to keep them till then) who are surely going to have their heads turned when they see all the negative press in relation to our finances.

I know it has been an overly used term amongst Liverpool fans but the next 12 months are the most important in our history because if Hicks & Gillette are still in charge, then God help us.

[dom9]

They are the two most despised people that have ever been associated with our club.

I think I despise El Hadj Diouf more.

[Neil Young]

I quite agree that they did bring the bad press on themselves and are far from being paragons of ownership virtue. I'm not sure about the building/milking the brand thing though - I just think that they had a different set of priorities to supporters. They clearly wanted to expand the commercial side and any investment in team improvement would be part of an effort to do that in the long run. In the end a competitive team is in everyones best interests and until the PL environment became such that the likes of Manchester City were able to splurge vast cash not accrued from footballing sources we were spending decent amounts on players compared to our competitors (even if United and Chelsea clearly had the ability to trump us).

I completely agree that keeping Rafa was their best decision and we could well have been ruined if they had gone the other way. However it's not as if significant proportions of the posters on here haven't called for his head on a number of occasions.

On a not unrelated note do you think Moores would have sacked Parry and given Rafa the control he has now? I think it is far from clear that it would have happened. I know this is venturing into the realms of speculation which you hate so much so I shan't dwell on the point.

Do you think that G&H have actually improved as owners since they took over or that they have been forced into a/ getting on, b/ giving Rafa more control and c/ stopped spouting hyperbolic drivel to the press due to forces beyond their control.


Yes, I did edit your earlier post

No doubt they've in some ways improved.
Of course they're never going to be loved.
Can't say for sure about Moores
Although that's a fair point of yours.
They've done the right thing by the gaffer
So let's hope they keep hold of Rafa.



Edit that.

[dww]

No doubt they've in some ways improved.
Of course they're never going to be loved.
Can't say for sure about Moores
Although that's a fair point of yours.
They've done the right thing by the gaffer
So let's hope they keep hold of Rafa.



Edit that.

No

[Nicey]

I am quite annouyed with them on a whole, I am a very pragmatic person and certains things you can overlook. I understand that Liverpool FC was an investment to them and that in many ways we are a business. But for a two individuals, their team, there family members to have behaved they way they have, has been an utter embarrassment and PR disaster for the club. They managed to sully our clubs good name and reputation in break neck speed. There lack of understanding of the true culture of football and the Liverpool way is only matched by there insentient use of the media to commuinicate with each other. I dont use the word hate, but I believe it would not be safe for them to walk around liverpool or anywhere in the world there are Liverpool Fans, what they have done to this wonderful club has nothing short of criminal. To give them credit at least more recently they have learnt the valuable skill of Shutting the **** up.

[Roboklopp]

1. No stadium
2. Lies
3. Bad PR
4. Almost losing Rafa
5. Burdening us with debt

They are the major points- all of which are obviously huge negatives.

Also, the argument about us having more money/bigger signings just doesnt wash as this was at a time when not only had Premiershp money increased dramatically, but also when we had enjoyed considerable CL success. On top of this, the purchases were paid for through debt. (leaving aside arguemnts about that for the time being). It is very possible we could have funded them under Moores- certainly had he pursued a more risky strategy of running the club's finances.

There are positive changes going on at the club now, but I think they are spearheaded by RAfa & that our owners have finally given him some credit for his understanding & are riding his genius.

As Pacm,an says, for all of the above reasons I wouldnt piss on them were they on fire. However, I think a large part of the damage theyve done to the club- the debt & despotic management etc has been done & I'm not sure if there are any realsitic new owners who could magic all that away.

[dom9]

1. No stadium - Yes, we have Anfield. We are not homeless. Nobody in their right mind should build a stadium in the current financial climate.
2. Lies - Agreed
3. Bad PR - Agreed
4. Almost losing Rafa - But he is still here, so it's not a problem. He hasn't exactly behaved in a mature manner himself over the last 18 months.
5. Burdening us with debt - There was debt before. They paid off the debts accrued by the previous regime when purchasing the club. The debts of the parent company (not the club) are now much higher. A subtle, but important difference.

I am playing devil's advocate to an extent, but I feel that some balance is required.

We would never have bought Torres, Mascherano, Babel (hasn't worked out, but it's over £10m) within 6 months of each under the previous regime.

[Vermilion]

What our owners have done, good or bad, is not the only issue, people should be thinking longer term, with the debt we presently have, and the future needs of the club, ie. stadium needed soon as is possible, top players to be bought, all in order to win the Prem, and then win it again and again, sustaining a consistent challenge, are they the right people to do that for us, are they even in a position monetary wise to do it even if they have the ability as owners/business men ?

I have serious doubts. What's gone is gone, they have cocked up big time on a few issues, but forgetting all that, and starting form a clean slate as we stand now, i just don't believe they have what it takes.

[dom9]

What our owners have done, good or bad, is not the only issue, people should be thinking longer term, with the debt we presently have, and the future needs of the club, ie. stadium needed soon as is possible, top players to be bought, all in order to win the Prem, and then win it again and again, sustaining a consistent challenge, are they the right people to do that for us, are they even in a position monetary wise to do it even if they have the ability as owners/business men ?

I have serious doubts. What's gone is gone, they have cocked up big time on a few issues, but forgetting all that, and starting form a clean slate as we stand now, i just don't believe they have what it takes.

But why should anybody be expected to put in billions of pounds of their own money to fund a stadium and build a team for any football club? That is, after all what you're asking for.

People expect some sort of fairy godfather to materialise out of thin air. It's not gonna happen, nore should we expect it to, and we certainly shouldn't bank on it.

It is acknowledged by most on here that the commercial side of the club has improved immeasureably over the last couple of years. That is what we need. A sustainable business plan. If it pays for the debts, a stadium and players, then we are all happy. If not, then that is the reality of situation.

[Roboklopp]

But why should anybody be expected to put in billions of pounds of their own money to fund a stadium and build a team for any football club? That is, after all what you're asking for.

People expect some sort of fairy godfather to materialise out of thin air. It's not gonna happen, nore should we expect it to, and we certainly shouldn't bank on it.

It is acknowledged by most on here that the commercial side of the club has improved immeasureably over the last couple of years. That is what we need. A sustainable business plan. If it pays for the debts, a stadium and players, then we are all happy. If not, then that is the reality of situation.

I think people expected them to speculate to accumilate rather than indebt to purchase-especiallt given their assurances towards that.

[Vermilion]

But why should anybody be expected to put in billions of pounds of their own money to fund a stadium and build a team for any football club? That is, after all what you're asking for.

People expect some sort of fairy godfather to materialise out of thin air. It's not gonna happen, nore should we expect it to, and we certainly shouldn't bank on it.

It is acknowledged by most on here that the commercial side of the club has improved immeasureably over the last couple of years. That is what we need. A sustainable business plan. If it pays for the debts, a stadium and players, then we are all happy. If not, then that is the reality of situation.

No, You misunderstand, i'm not asking or expecting a fairy godfather, but i do want owners with credibility, that want to be here long term, and who don't hawk the club around within 18months of being here, showing their true intentions.

Any owner can do what they've done, and better probably and with no in fighting, with a proper as you say business plan and more chance of funding the stadium than these two jokers, i honestly fear for the future of this club under our present stewardship, that is how i feel.

All i can say is thank **** we got Rafa when we did, and lucky for them too, or we could be in more debt had we not been in europe on a regular basis.

[Fierce]

Outrageous borderline libellous comments based on, at best, internet rumours? Check
Overly aggressive racist nonsense? Check
No understanding whatsoever of finance and its virtues, or lack of? Check
Unrealistic requests/demands based on nothing except the yearning for the now utterly redundant 'good old days'? Check

Nope, no further comment from me Ben, think you've got all you need here

[Roboklopp]

Outrageous borderline libellous comments based on, at best, internet rumours? Check
Overly aggressive racist nonsense? Check
No understanding whatsoever of finance and its virtues, or lack of? Check
Unrealistic requests/demands based on nothing except the yearning for the now utterly redundant 'good old days'? Check

Nope, no further comment from me Ben, think you've got all you need here

Facile, ill-informed pigeon-holing of other people's opinions. Check.

[Neil Young]

No

You could just have binned the whole post. I wouldn't have blamed you.

[Shanks]

Looks like we are stuck with them.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...5875-21434259/


CASH LIFELINE FOR RAFA 12/06/2009

Liverpool's owners have secured a £350million loan to refinance the club, after pledging more funds for Anfield.

That will allow manager Rafa Benitez to resist a Spanish armada trying to tempt three of his top stars away from Anfield.

Barcelona are desperate to land midfielder Javier Mascherano, and have also been linked with unsettled Yossi Benayoun while Real Madrid will try to seduce Xabi Alonso back to Spain after their dramatic world-record swoop yesterday for Ronaldo.

But Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has found a £200million buyer for his Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise.

And with Tom Hicks also close to selling half his stake in the Texas Rangers baseball franchise, the pair have been told that the refinancing with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American bank Wachoiva is a formality.